Barney Stinson Fans Rejoice!

The How I Met Your Mother series created one of the most interesting characters in the history of television. The awesomely, always suited up bro named Barney Stinson captivated the hearts and minds of fans of the series. But he isn’t one of the most interesting characters because of his eye-catching, envious suits, his bro code or simply how awesome he is. He is one of the most interesting because he has a unique view of the world, specifically his cinematic tastes. Like many people, Barney was a fan of the hit nostalgia classic movie The Karate Kid. Unlike most people, however, Barney’s karate kid wasn’t Daniel LaRusso. The star of the movie in Barney’s eyes was Johnny Lawrence. If you happen to agree with Barney, then I have some great news for you. You can stop searching the depths of Netflix for your next series because I’ve got two words for you: Cobra Kai.

Cobra Kai follows the updated life of Johnny Lawrence, more than 30 years after the illegal head kick that dashed his dreams of winning the All-Valley Tournament. Like the aforementioned tournament, I’ll only need three points to show you why Cobra Kai is, as Barney would put it, legen…wait for it…dary!

Point 1: Cobra Kai is Palette-Cleansing for HIMYM fans

Ever since the Season Finale of How I Met Your Mother almost seven years ago, many fans have had a sour taste in their mouths from the way the show ended. To this day, people still consider it one of the worst endings to a series in television history. That has to be a thorn in the side of most fans, especially die-hard fans that followed the show for nine years. The feeling of an unsatisfying ending to an otherwise great show or film can be devastating on the whole product. If you’re also a fan of Barney’s theory about The Karate Kid, you’ve had that same feeling for even longer. Johnny Lawrence’s story ended after he lost the tournament, leaving fans of his story wondering what happened with him. Cobra Kai gives you the answers you’ve been waiting over three decades for. The series develops from Johnny’s perspective, showing what’s happened to Johnny’s life after the first Karate Kid ended.

Point 2: Cobra Kai Flips the Script

None of the other characters in How I Met Your Mother shared Barney’s perspective on the hit film. If you were the Barney Stinson fan of your HIMYM watch group, your friends likely shared the same skepticism whenever you tried to prove Barney’s theory. Cobra Kai is what you’ve been waiting for to show you and Barney were right all along. In The Karate Kid, Daniel was painted as the underdog and Johnny was painted as the bully because of their social standings in life. Cobra Kai flips that equation on its back like Johnny did Daniel in the tournament. This time, Johnny is on the low end of the financial totem pole while Daniel is living the high life. If your friends loved Daniel in the film because they could relate to his place in life, Cobra Kai helps even the playing field by putting Johnny in the same position. The series not only shows that Johnny wasn’t the bully everyone thought he was in the film, but it develops as a redemption for anyone who may have thought he was. Speaking of development…

Point 3: Just Like Barney Stinson, Cobra Kai’s Not a One-Trick Pony

Just like Barney Stinson’s not just awesome because he’s awesome, Cobra Kai isn’t just awesome because it tickles your nostalgia fancy. The series finds the perfect balance between satisfying your nostalgia fix and giving you something new to root for. Cobra Kai checks the boxes for fans of The Karate Kid trilogy while successfully injecting new blood into the “Miyagi-verse.” Johnny opens a new Cobra Kai dojo in the Valley, teaching new students his way of the fist and giving fans all new characters to relate to and love.

When it comes to the next show you should be watching on Netflix, there’s only one undisputed choice. Strike the play button first and strike it hard with no mercy.

Winner of your next Netflix Recommendation: